We urge passage of Assembly Bill 847, authored by Assemblyman Raul Bocanegra, D-San Fernando, that would require academic senates at campuses of California State University and California Community Colleges to publish the names of their members and their demographic makeup on a public website, as most other publicly funded entities are required to do. The bill would request the same of the independent University of California campuses.

For too long some academic senates and their executive committees, who are vested with great authority, have been able to hide in the shadows — using authority and intimidation to impose their will, creating a campus climate where innovation and best practices are actively pushed aside in favor of the status quo, protecting power and influence for the few.

In our opinion perhaps the worst example of this behavior is the current Academic Senate Executive Committee at our alma mater, Cal State San Bernardino.

Six years ago, we served on the presidential search committee, along with two current CSUSB Academic Senate Executive Committee members, that chose President Tomas Morales. They made it clear then that President Morales was not “their” candidate and have used the shadowy world of the Academic senate to work against him before he ever came to campus and ever since. What is even more troubling is the Academic Senate “candidate” for campus president at the time was the former CSUSB provost, who also now serves on the Academic Senate Executive Committee.

It is our opinion the CSUSB Academic Senate Executive Committee has waged an open war on civility and innovation on campus. Any effort to increase faculty accountability, enhance student success or to modernize and improve campus operations is met with relentless opposition. Faculty who speak in favor of counter ideas are quietly pulled aside and told their tenure or promotion is at risk if they don’t fall in line, and yes, the Academic Senate does largely control the promotion and tenure of their own. Even worse, student government leaders, who serve on the Academic Senate, report they are routinely bullied and harassed at Academic Senate meetings. Is this the example we want for the next generation of leaders?

Such examples demonstrate why passage of AB847 is needed. Freedom of thought and expression without intimidation should be the hallmark of higher education, but until academic senates are open and transparent, this is a mark we will continue to miss.

Academic senates play a vital function and when run honorably and openly are beacons for student progress and success. They need to be focused on student success and academic exceptionalism. Without accountability and openness, the academic senate can become nothing more than a self-promoting private club, focused on maintaining a status quo that protects themselves and their special interests, and rejects any effort to improve higher education.

Transparency, diversity and accountability are what California’s college students and taxpayers deserve. Passage of AB847 is a step in the right direction.

Paul Granillo and Lou Monville are graduates of Cal State San Bernardino, class of 1991 and 1994, respectively. They served on the university’s presidential search committee six years ago, when Tomas Morales was hired as university president.

Transparency, diversity and accountability are what California’s college students and taxpayers deserve. Passage of Assembly Bill 847 is a step in the right direction.

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